New light bulb technology - any good?
New light bulb technology - any good?
(OP)
It seems that this bulb is available in the US now: Vu1 Lighting
I saw several reviews written by people in San Diego and a few other places. They say it is super - and doesn't cost too much.
I am sceptical. The field emission technology (without heated cathode) seemed to be a good idea many years ago. But is it still a good idea? LED lamps cost a third or less and their life is three times longer.
The Vu1 bulb has a heated cathode. Is that what makes it shine (no pun)?
Has anyone tried out the Vu1 bulb? Thoughts?
I saw several reviews written by people in San Diego and a few other places. They say it is super - and doesn't cost too much.
I am sceptical. The field emission technology (without heated cathode) seemed to be a good idea many years ago. But is it still a good idea? LED lamps cost a third or less and their life is three times longer.
The Vu1 bulb has a heated cathode. Is that what makes it shine (no pun)?
Has anyone tried out the Vu1 bulb? Thoughts?
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.





RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Thanks - there's a pathetic attempt to use cold field emission to produce lamps. The company is named LightLab and some of their spokespersons say that the Vu1 (relative) succes is a good indicator that the Field Emission Lamps will work.
I am not so sure about that.
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
There is a homework forum hosted by engineering.com: http://www.engineering.com/AskForum/aff/32.aspx
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
There is a homework forum hosted by engineering.com: http://www.engineering.com/AskForum/aff/32.aspx
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
For some time it looked like the company (Vu1) was going under, maybe they can avoid bankruptcy? I did find the R30 bulbs for sale at:
http://www.destinationlighting.com/item/r30-energy...
they apparently received UL approval for a Chinese factory, and are shipping to the US now.
I went ahead and ordered one. I'll let you know a) if the bulb gets here and b) what it's like. I'm getting tired of replacing the CFL bulbs in R30 cans in our house. Usually the ballasts in those overheat and burn out.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
"You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals" -- Booker T. Washington
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
R30 form bulb arrived late yesterday, put it into a recessed lighting fixture (1 of 3 in a line over the kitchen table) and turned it on (around 5:00 pm, maybe 5:30).
Compared to a tungsten bulb in adjacent fixture, it was about equal, but compared to an LED bulb in the other end of the line, it was noticeably dimmer/less luminous. FWIW, I replaced a CFL bulb that had noticeably dimmed after installing it sometime last year - I have not had good life from any CFL bulb, ever. Also, the Vu1 bulb protruded about 3/4" out of the recessed ceiling can. Also more - reading the package, there was a statement that the bulb was "not intended for fully enclosed fixures" or some such, which I think about 90% of these types of bulbs would be used in.
About 10:00 pm, the wife came upstairs and informed me that the bulb had gone out, the base of the bulb (electonics housing?) had become very hot. Checked again this morning, after letting it cool down overnight, and it is still dead. Now to see if I can get a refund...
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Thanks for the valuable information.
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
The other ones are switched on/of regularly. None of my LED bulbs have failed so far.
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
One last thing about the Vu1 bulb that may me go "hunh" - there was a funny crackling sound when the bulb was switched on or off. Now, it's been a while since I've been around CRT's, so at first I thought something in the power electronics was acting up (some CFL bulbs do that too, usually right before they crap out). On closer investigation, though, it was just the crackle of static charge building up across the face of the tube when powered on (and discharging when turned off). Disconcerting at first, but not all that obnoxious...but am willing to bet that if they ever make inroads in the market, somebody will need to sell lamp dusters to the users.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
There is a homework forum hosted by engineering.com: http://www.engineering.com/AskForum/aff/32.aspx
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
I think our LED bulbs are the "dimmable" versions, and were likely from Costco. We are talking R30 form bulbs here? Where did you get yours?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Tungsten lamps in the UK are getting expensive. I am idly wondering what to do with lava lights which rely on the heat of the lamp for operation. My kids have one each as night lights - they think they're aliens - and a lamp failure would cause terrible upset.
skogs - a Clas Olsson opened in Newcastle a year or two ago but I have never been in. Is it somewhere I need to acquaint myself with?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
--------------------------------------
Half full - Half empty? I don't mind. It's what in it that counts.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
I certainly don't think all are created equal - some have inadequate heatsinks and run noticeably hot to the touch, and some just seem to have poor driver circuitry which doesn't last. At work we're using LED panels to replace office lighting and while there's little to distinguish them in terms of light output some are quite well-made while others are really poor. There's a big cost spread though, from about 40 GBP to about 160 GBP so you get what you pay for to some extent. FWIW the CEL ones I used in an outdoor application with photocell control have all failed the same way: the LED chips are all operational, but the driver has failed and the light pulses in an almost strobe-like manner. Almost certainly one component failing each time, but at such low replacement cost it's not worth the effort of repairing them.
One of the regulars - mcgyvr2000 perhpas - does a fair bit with LEDs and will offer a better engineering insight than I can.
RE: New light bulb technology - any good?
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com